Veterinary obstetrical instrument



NOV. 18, 1952 H' LARSON VETERINARY OBSTETRICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb'. 14, 1952 ...1 s... I r m- Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VETERINARY OBSTETRICAL INSTRUMENT Herbert J. Larson, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Application February 14, 1952, Serial No. 271,598

6 Claims. 1

The herein disclosed invention relates to veterinary obstetrical instruments and has for an object to produce an instrument particularly suited for assisting in the delivery of pigs.

Another object of the invention resides in providing an instrument having a snare for engagement about the neck of the pig and in further providing means by which the pig is held from being pushed back into the sow during the application of the snare to its neck.

A further object of the invention resides in constructing the instrument with forceps operable independently of the snare and adapted to be applied to the snout of the unborn pig to hold the same in position while the snare is being supplied about the neck of the pig.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the instrument with a tubular shank having a head mounted on the end of the same and in forming thehead with outwardly divergent guideways in which a number of arms may be disposed and guided for outwardly diverging movement and in further attaching the snare to the end of said arms.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the head with other guide means disposed inwardly of said first named guides and in further providing a number of lingers guided by said second named guide means for movement in an outwardly diverging relation and in further forming on the ends of said fingers claws for engagement with the snout of the unborn pig.

A feature of the invention resides in providing operating means for both the snare and the forceps disposed eXteriorly of the shank and connected to the said arms and ngers and adapted to be independently operated.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the instrument with shifting members disposed in said shank and to which the said arms and fingers are attached, said shifting members being guided for axial sliding movement along said shank and being attached to said operating means.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a veterinary obstetrical instrument with the parts in retracted position and taken on line I -I of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the forceps extended and showing the construction of the operating means for the snare andwith the structure rotated through an angle of degrees.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the snare in extended position and the forceps in a position adapted to grip the snout of the unborn pig.

The veterinary obstetrical instrument shown in the drawings comprises a tubular shank having an annular head attached to one end thereof. This head is formed at the outer surface thereof with outwardly flaring guideways in which are received arms extending into the shank and attached to a shifting member slidable axially along the shank. The said guideways guide the arms for movement in outwardly divergent relation with respect to one another. The ends of the arms are provided with eyes through which a snare is threaded. An operating member disposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to the shifting member serves to move the arms from extended to retracted position and vice versa. The head is formed with a bore through which a number of ngers extend. These fingers are attached to a shifting member also movable axially within the tubular shank. These lingers are formed at the ends of the same with claws and the said lingers are adapted to spread upon being moved outwardly by the shifting member and to grip the snout of the unborn pig when the shifting member is retracted. The shifting member has attached to it operating vmeans disposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to said shifting member. The forceps and snare are independently operable.

The instrument shown consists of a tubular shank I5 threaded at both ends. In one end of the shank is screwed a head I I having a threaded neck I 2. In the other end of the shank is screwed a cap I3 having a threaded neck I4. The head I I supports a snare I5 and forceps I6 which latter is disposed within the confines of the former and which are independently operable. These parts will now be described in detail.

The snare I5 is supported by means of four arms I'I which are constructed of ribbon type spring material and which are disposed partly within the bore I8 and shank I0. These arms are secured by means of screws E9 to a shifting member 20. Shifting member 26 is cylindrical in form and is provided with axially extending flats 2| on which the arms Il rest. The shifting member 20 is slidable within the bore I 8 of shank I0. For the purpose of manipulating the snare the following construction is used. The shank I is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 22. A knob 23 is mounted on the exterior of the shank II! and overlies the slot 22. Knob 23 is attached to the shifting member 20 by'means of a screw 24 which extends through said knob and is screwed into said shifting member.

The head II is frusto conicalV in form and has an outer conical;V surface 25 and a bore 26 extending therethrough. The outer end of the said bore has a flare 21. In the surface 25 is formed four guideways 28 in which the four arms I1 are disposed. These guidewaysserve to cause the arms to diverge outwardly from the head II when the shifting mem-berZ is'moved toward the head II as shown inFig. 5.'

The snare I consists of a cord, cableor piece of wire which is threaded through eyes" 29`formed on clips 30. These clips "are attached to the ends of the arms I1 by means of rivets 3|. The snare I5may"travel 'freely inthe said eyes land -the ends 32 and 33 of the snare may -b'edrawn taut to close' the snareV about ythe neck of y(the unborn pig when the arms I1 are properlyY positioned.

The-forceps I6 consists of four iingers-34 constructed of'resilient wire which -are lall mounted in the'bore I8 of shanky I0. These fingers are attached at one end to a shifting member 35 also ydisposed. 'within the bore I8 of shank'v If 'These ngers'also extend through Vthe'bore 26 of =head II.' The ends of the `fingersare-formed with claws 33 which 'are directedY toward one another asbest shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The fingers 34 are normally spread'outwardly so that'when'the shiftingmemberA 35 is moved toward the head II thefingers take" the position shown in Fig. 2.

'l The shifting member 35 has attached to it and forming part thereof, av rod 31. Rod 31 and the ngers 34' may all be brazed or soldered to the shifting 4member 35 or 'secured thereto inl any other suitable manner. The rod V31 passes through'a bore 38 in the shifting member 20 and through a' bore 39 inthe cap I3. AOn the end of the rod 31 is mounted abuttonl MI which may be attached to" said'rods by means of threads -4I formed on the end of the same. This button serves as operating means foroperating the Vforoeps I5. A compression coil spring Il?. encircles the portion of the rod 31 projecting outwardly beyond cap I3 and is seated at one end against said cap and at its 4othery end againstthe button 40. This spring normally holds the forceps IB in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The method of use of the instrument is ob- Vious. The instrument is inserted with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 1 .untilthe'head II reaches the unborn pig. The button 4B is next vdepressed yuntil 'the forceps I'Sfare open as shown in Fig. 2 and the claws 36spaced from one `another. In such position the snout of the unborn pig may enter the space between the* fingers 34. Upon release of the button'd the'c1awsf36 grasp the snout of the pig and hold the pig in-fixed position. With thezpigV so'held' the knob'23 is moved forwardly and the .ends 32 and' 33 ofthe snare I 5 released so that thesnare maybe moved to a position approaching' that shown in Fig. 5. When the snare I5 iswell back of the head of the pig a-ndencircling thesame the ends 32 and'33 are drawn taut and the snare ilrmlyattached to the animal. The unborn pig may. then be delivered by exerting traction on the ends of the snare and the entirefinstrument.

` The' advantages ofthe invention areimanifest. The pig is rmly held in position while the snare is attached. The snare can be easily forced over the pigs head and applied to the pigs neck. Both the snare and the forceps are independently operable so that the forceps may be first attached and the snare subsequently applied. The device can be constructed of fairly small dimensions so the sow is subject to as little discomfort as possible.. The instrument can be manufactured at an leconomical lcost and by methods and equipment readily available.

l Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the l.scope oflwhat isclaimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. Having described the invention, what is claimed as' new and desired to be protected by Letters Patentis:

1.` In a veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, a head attached to one end of said shank, -a shifting 'member within the shank and slidable alon'gl thev vsame,v operating means 'thereford-ispo'sed' exteriorly of said shank and connected to saidshiftingmember, a vpluralityof armsY connected to' said vshifting member' and when invuse extending outwardly through said Ia second`l shifting member within the shank and slidable relative thereto, operating means therefor disposed exteriorly' of'said shank andconnected to said 'secondnamed shifting member, a plurality; of V.fingers connected to said. second namedr shifting member-and 4when inV use extending through said head and beyond the same, other guide means formed in said head and-guiding said fingers to extended positions, said ngers being resilient and being biased to cause spreading of the same upon movement of said second named operating means toward said head,` and claws formed on .the ends of said fingers.

2. In a Veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, a head attached to one end of said shank, a shifting member within the shank and slidable along the same, operating means therefordisposed exteriorly of saidshank and connected to said vshifting member, a plurality of arms connected to `said shifting member and when in use extending outwardly through said Yhead and beyond the same, guide means formed in said head for guidingr said arms in a manner to cause spreading of the same upon movement of said 'shifting membertoward said head, eyes at the ends of ysaid arms, a snare extending through. said eyes and having portions extending along said4 shank and serving to close the snare, a second shifting member within the shank and slidable relative thereto, operating means therefor disposed exteriorly of said shank and connected to said second named shifting member, a plurality of fingers connected to said second named shifting member and when in useI extending through said head and beyond the same, other guide means formed in said head and-disposed. inw-ardlyof said rst named guide means and Aguiding saidngers to cause spreading of thesameupon movement' of said second named operating vmeans 'towardsaid head', and claws formed ronu/the ends ofzsaid ngers, said claws and ngers operating within the confines of said arms.

3. In a veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, a head attached to one end of said shank, a number of arms extending through said head and retractable into said shank and head, guide means formed in said head and disposed angularly relative to said shank and engaging said arms to guide said arms for movement in outwardly diverging directions, a snare carried by the ends of said arms, operating means for said arms disposed exteriorly of said shank and connected to said arms, said operating means serving to extend or retract said arms, a plurality of fingers extending through said head, other guide means in said head and engaging said fingers to guide said ngers for movement in outwardly diverging directions, claws formed on the ends of said fingers and operating means for said fingers disposed exteriorly of said shank and connected to said fingers, said second named operating means serving to extend or retract said fingers, said arms and the structure attached thereto bein?,r movable independently of the fingers and structure attached thereto.

4. In a veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, a head attached to one end or' said shank, a number of arms extending through said head and retractable into said shank and head, guide means formed in said head and disposed angularly relative to said shank and engaging said arms to guide said arms for movement in outwardly diverging directions, a snare carried by the ends of said arms, operating means for said arms disposed exteriorly of said shank and connected to said arms, said operating means serving to extend or retract said arms, a plurality of fingers extending through said head, other guide means in said head and engaging said fingers to guide said lingers for movement in outwardly diverging directions,` said second named guide means being spaced from said rst named guide means, claws formed on the ends of said fingers and operating means for said fingers disposed exteriorly of said shank and connected to said fingers, said second named operating means serving to extend or retract said fingers, said arms and the structure attached thereto being movable independently of the fingers and structure attached thereto.

5. In a veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, an annular head attached to one end of said shank, said head having a circular outer surface and a bore, a number of guideways formed in said head at the outer surface thereof and extending in an angular direction with reference to said shank, a number of arms constructed of resilient material received within said guideways and extending through said head and into said shank, operating means disposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to said arms and moving said arms along said guideways and causing the arms to spread upon movement of the operating means toward the head, a snare attached to the outer ends of said arms, said bore having an outwardly flaring portion at its outer end, a plurality of fingers received within said bore and constructed of resilient material and normally biased to cause spreading upon being ejected from said bore, said iingers having claws at the ends of the same and operating means disposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to said lingers for shifting said ngers independently of the movement of said arms.

6. In a veterinary obstetrical instrument, a tubular shank, an annular head attached to one end of said shank, said head having a frusto conical outer surface and a bore, a number of guideways formed in said head at the outer surface thereof and extending along an element of said surface and in an angular direction with reference to said shank, a number of arms constructed of resilient material received within said guideways and extending through said head and into said shank, operating means disposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to said arms and moving said arms along said guideways and causing the arms to spread upon movement of the operating means toward the head, a snare attached to the outer ends of said arms, said bore having an outwardly flaring portion at its outer end, a plurality of ingers received within said bore and constructed of resilient material and normally biased to cause spreading upon being ejected from said bore, said lingers having claws at the ends of the same and operating means Qdisposed exteriorly of the shank and connected to `said iingers for shifting said fingers independently of the movement of said arms.

HERBERT J. LARSON.

No references cited. 

